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Blowgun
Blowguns are the most primitive of ranged weapons, dating back to times as ancient as the primordial era when mankind first used tools. These modest weapons are fashioned from little more then a hollowed bamboo shoot, or a particularly slim tree branch carved into a cylindrical shape. Users place their lips to a blowgun’s opening, and propel a light, aerodynamic projectile by force-of-breath… generally thin, pointed darts that’re often dipped in toxic poisons. Blowguns were considered to have first been used in primordial times, after galagi had taught the first nomadic tribes of humans how to use them. Nevertheless, a warrior’s use of these light, simplistic weapons hasn’t receded over the millennia; rather, the blowgun’s surprising potential has been developed and honed by both seasoned combatants and hunters alike.

Composition
Blowguns are varied in their length and quality, but most are comprised of hollowed bamboo shoots, either left flexible or reinforced with a rigid coating of dried lamination (so as to prevent breaking). Some, particularly those built for military use, can reach lengths as long as a full-sized mahõra flint; specifically elongated for long-shafted projectiles to sail across massive distances. Those designed for long-term use are sometimes equipped with hempen ropes or leather straps tied on either end, slung conveniently across an owner’s shoulders when not in use.

Use and techniques
Because these silent, effective weapons are an assassin’s perfect weapon, blowguns are largely dismissed as being limited strictly for subtle attacks. Many foolishly overlook the weapon’s substantial potential in mass combat, and a carefully directed shot aimed between an armour’s plating can drop even the strongest warriors. Techniques are practiced to aim for exposed weak points, allowing precise shots to potentially disable victims if they strike a correct nerve or muscle-joint. Some blowgun needles are intended for close-range combat, forged specifically to penetrate straight through armour *and* flesh with equal ease. These variants are brutally-barbed javelins that sacrifice range for incredible power. Unsurprisingly, these bulky, awkward spears require incredible force-of-breath to propel through the air effectively, are severely limited in their range, and are only suited for exceptionally large military blowguns. Despite such drawbacks, these iron-plated javelins are capable of punching a hole straight through fifteen-feet of solid granite when blown properly, and can penetrate several bodies in one blinding shot when lining up opponents.

Blowgun Needles
Blowgun needles (generally called darts) vary in their shapes, lengths and composition, but most are fashioned from brittle, easily-acquired materials such as splintered wood, chitin and bamboo shoots. Such frail darts are often supplemented with slender arrowheads, crafted from lightweight iron so as to prevent weighing down the projectile’s flight… yet still allow deeper penetration. Other needles are crafted entirely from solid metal, puncturing a creature’s flesh deeper then a typical wooden or chitinous needle. Some warriors are known to have used needles blown from crudely-cut glass, disabling targets as the brittle projectiles shatter into an irritating spray of glass dust. With each movement, the broken shards are pressed deeper into the creature’s wound, and inflict blinding pain with each breath. Whatever their lengths or composition, all blowgun needles are invariably capable of holding poisons upon their shafts indefinitely, making them a choice weapon for assassins. Nothing is feared more then a concealed sniper buried somewhere beneath blankets of undergrowth, silently blowing delicate needles into the necks of unsuspecting victims… each coated with fast-acting venom. As the hunter’s quarry slowly collapse under the poison’s effects, one-by-one, a sense of dread overwhelms the remaining survivors, when they notice tiny puncture-wounds opened in their allies… and they discover an identical set of punctures in their own necks.